Soap metering and dispensing device for washing machines



y 1957 N. A. BENNETT 2,793,940

SOAP METERING AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NE\L A. BENNET T ATTORNEYs y 1957 N. A. BENNETT 2,793,940

SOAP METERING AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 48 L 58 Go 2Q BI/()5 rug-4 INVENTOR.

NE-\L. A: BENNETT A-rToz NEYS United W8 Pm iQ SOAP LIETERING AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Neil A. Bennett, Anderson, Caiii. Application July 6, 1956, Serial No.596,20( t 7 Claims. 01. 23-267) The present invention relates to a'device for metering out a selected quantity of a 'granular'soap or-detergent,

and dispensing the same to the water intake of a washing machine, .such as an automatic washer.

In the operation of automatic washers, care must be taken to place in the washer the proper amount of soap or detergent. The amount depends upon the size of the load, in this regard, and it is not uncommon, when an excess of soap or detergent is dispensed into the machine, to cause the resulting bubbles to produce an overflow, sometimes with disastrous results. Further, it is desirable that the proper amount of soap or detergent be placed in the machine according to the size of the load, with a minimum deviation from the quantity desired, for the reason that in this way the most effective cleansing action '1 is obtained, and further, there is no wastage of the soap or detergent. It will be understood, hereinafter, that the material dispensed will include soap, detergents: or any of various other granular cleansing agents used inwashing machines, particularly home washers.

Summarized briefly, the metering and dispensing deg vice according to the present invention is adapted to insure the dispensing of a particular quantity of soap to the Patented May 28, 19 51 Among important objects of the invention are the following: i

To provide a device of the character described that canzbe associated with conventional washers of various types and designs already in use; To permit the installation of the soap metering and dispensing device with minimum difficulty; 1

moving to open or unseated posit-ion responsive to turn-' ing of thedrum for the purpose of dispensing soap; and' To adapt the device for use with maximum ease and' facility so far as the housewife is concerned.

Otherobjects will appear from the following descrip- .tion, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed water intake of the washing machine, which quantity will be selected by the housewife according to the size of the load and will be the proper amount for. said load. The

device includes a hopper adapted to hold the supply of soap, said hopper being preferably designed to hold a full box of soap sothat it need not be replenished except at relatively infrequent intervals. I

The hopper at its 'lower end communicates with a metering means in the form of a rotary drum. having blades so arranged as to define compartments of different sizes, each holding a different quantity ofisoap. I In this way, rotation of the drum to a selected position will cause one compartment to 'be emptied, dispensing enough soap for a small load. Further rotation of the: drum in the same direction will cause an additional compartment to be emptied, for medium loads, and still further rotation of the drum in the same direction will cause emptying of yet another compartment, so that with soap dispensed from all three compartments, enough will have been dispensed for a large load.

The drum automatically is returned to its normal, rest position by means of a spring, and wound about the drum is a flexible element such as a chain, carrying a conical valve which, in the rest position of the drum, closes a passage into which the soap drops from the drum. In other words, on rotation of the drum in the manner described, the valve automatically is unseated,

permitting the soap to drop into a mixing chamber below the valve, through which water passes to the washer to carry the soap with it. I

Connected with the mixing washing cycle,.the pump will exhaust the mixing chamber to insure that the same will be dry when soap is dropped chamber a connection to the washing machine pump, so that at the end of the thereinto during-the next use of the washing machine,

drawings, in which like reference characters designate-like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a metering and dispensing device formed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the connections of the metering device with the washing machine and the piping;

.Figure 3 is an enlarged section longitudinally through the device on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view substantially on line 5--5 of Figure 4, the valve being shown in full and dotted lines in seated and unseated positions respectively;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the device as seen from the line 66 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is -a perspective view, part being broken away, .of the rotary drum on an enlarged scale.

- Referring to the drawings indetail, the reference numeral 10 generally designates a hopper. The hopper mayjb'e of any desired shape or size, but preferably, as shown, includes a rectangular, upwardly opening top portio'nl12 merging into a downwardly tapering bottom portion 14,. Preferably, the hopper is of a size adapted to hold a quantity of granular soap or detergent equal to that contained in the ordinary, popularly'sized box of soap such as may be purchased in a super market.

Integral or otherwise made rigid with the hopper at the lower end thereof is a horizontally extending, cylindrical drum housing 16 disposed transversely of the hopper at the lower end of the tapered portion; The

drum housing 16 is in communication at its top with the 7 interior of the hopper, as shown at 18, and extending as a continuation of the circular cross section and the drum housing, within the discharge opening or outlet of the hopper, is an arcuate cross member 20, providing a closure for the intermediate portion of the drum, in a manner to be described in greaterdetail hereinafter.

Integral or otherwise made rigid with a drum housing,

at the other side thereof, is a downwardly extending conduitZZ for the metered, dispensed soap. As shown in Figure 1, the conduit 22 tapers in a downward direction, and is so formed that at its upper end it is-of rectangular cross section, merging gradually into a circular cross sectional shape as it approaches the lower end thereof, to

provide a circular valve seat. The conduit 22 is in full communication with the interior of the drum housing,

, through the full length of the drum housing, that is, fully Rotatably mounted within the drum housing is a drum generally designated 36,. This includes. a shaft 38 extending axially within the drum housing. :Shaft 38 is.

integral (see Figure 4-) adjacent its ends with drumnheads 40, 42. Formed upon the shaft at theouter surfaces .of thedrum heads, are collars 44, -4z6..journalled.-.in;the front and back walls of the drum housing, The front wall 48 of the drum housing isremovahle to. permit insertion, removal, and cleaning of the. drum.

Shaft. 38 projects forwardly from the. housing and securedthereto is a knob 5.50...

anchored. atone end to the rearwardly projectingendof shaft 38 (see Figure, 6,) is a spiral spring 52 the other end of which is anchored .to a .pin 54 that projectsrearwardly from the back wall of the drum housing. The spring is tensioned tonormally :turn thedrum in one direction, to a rest, position shownin. full lines .in Figure 5.

Intermediate its ends, the. drum has a transverse partition 56, formed with .a circumferential, deep groove 58. Secured at one end to the bottom wall of the groove is a chain 60, looped about the. partition as shown in Figure 3 and extending downwardly within conduit 22. Connected to the lower end of the chain is a conical valve or plug 62. On rotation of the drum under the force of the spring, the chain is wound upon the partition, elevating plug 62 until it bears firmly against the circular valve seat definedby the, circularly formed lower endof the conduit .22. The valveis shown in this position in Figures 3 and 4, and in full lines in Figure 5.

Extending the full length of the drum, and rigid at their opposite ends with the respective drum heads, are radial blades 66 68 spaced 45 degrees apart angularly about the axis of the drum. The drum also has a semicylindrical, permanently closed portion 64 extending the full length thereof defining walls 65, 69 lying in a common planenorrnal to the plane of .the blade .66. Blade The other end ofthe shaft projects rearwardly from the drum housing, and

68 is disposed between the wall 69. and blade. 66, being equidistantly spacedfrom said wall 69 and blade 66;

This construction defines .a first compartment defined between wall and; blade 66, which compartment ex tends throu h9Q degrees of the drum circumference. A second, intermediate compartment is defined between blades 66,687-audextends through 45 degrees. of the drum circumference. A third compartment is disposed between blade 68 and wall.69 and also extends through 45 degrees of the drum circumference.

The conduit 22 is offset to one side of the drum axis as shown in Figure 3, and includes a wall 71 which, in the .IlOIIIlElljPOSlIlOIl of the drum, is disposed in a plane substantially common to, that of the blade 68. Thus, the semi-cylindrical portion of the drum ,in the normal position of the same closes the upper end of the outlet as shown in Figure 5, with the valve plug firmly seated against the valve seat provided at the lower end of; the conduit 22, to prevent soap from dropping into the mixing chamber.

In use, and assuming that it is only desired to dispense enough soap for a small load, the knob is grasped and the drum is turned through approximately 90 degrees or perhaps a little less, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. This causes soap previously deposited in the leading, 90-degree chamber to drop into the conduit '22, and

.If soap for a medium load is desired, the drum is further rotated until the soap within the intermediate, 45-degree compartment drops into the conduit.

If soap for a large load is desired, the drum is still further rotated, sufficiently to cause the soap within the trailing 45-degree chamber to drop into the conduit 22. The valve plug is rotated through the entire operation, of course.

It will be understood that the wall 48 can be provided with a scale or can be otherwise calibrated or marked to facilitate the rotation of the drum to the exact extent desired.

Referring to Figure 2, connected to fitting 28 is a line 70, extending from a source. of water under pressure. A line 72 is connected to the fitting 34 and constitutes the water supply pipe for a washing machine generally designated 74. The outlet of the washing machine has been designated at 76, and connected :thereto is .a T 78. Connected between the T 78. and the. fitting 361's. a line 80, the T being connected to .an outlet 82 extending to the washing machine pump 84.

It will thus be seen that before the washing machine is put through its cycle, .a predetermined quantity .of soap can be dropped into the machine. Then, when the machine is turned on, water willmove through the mixing chamber from the inlet 28 to the. .outlet 34, carrying with it the soap.

Then, at the completion of the cycle, the pump operates to pump the water out of the washing machine in the usual manner, and since it, is connected with the mixing chamber by means of the line. 80 it will exhaust any water within thernixing chamber so that themixingchamher will bedry, awaiting the next useof thedevice.

It will be'apparent that the device can be installed upon a, conventional washing .machine with minimum difiiculty, since it is merely necessary toconnect the water intake hose. or pipe with the mixingchamber. Said hose .or pipe can be separated for installation of the mixing chamber thercbetween. The device can of course be mounted upon a suitable bracket carried by the washing machine or an adjacent support. After the connection is made to the pump, the device is ready for use and will thereafterpermit theswift and accurate metering and dispensing of the soap .or detergent, according to the needs of theparticular situation.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not neces sarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which simultaneously the valve will be moved downwardly to its it;-may.be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and dc- -scribed, .since. such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devisedto carry out said principles, it being consideredthat'the invention comprehends any minor change in :construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

\ What is claimed is:

l. A metering and dispensing device for granula piaterial comprising a hopper; a drum housing communicating therewith; a rotary drum in the housing having a plurality of segmentally shapedcompartments communieating with the hopper on rotation of the'drum; a conduit communicating with and extending downwardly from the housing into position such that said compartments are successively communicated with the conduit onrotation of thedrum through selected angular distances; and valve means connected with the drum and normally closing the lower endof the-conduit, said valve means being nnseated responsive to rotation of the drum in one direction.

2. A metering and dispensing device for granular-materialcomprising 'a'hopper; a drum housing communicating therewith; a rotary drum in the housing having a plurality of segmcntally shaped'compartments communicating with thehopper on rotation of the drum; a conduit communicating with and extending downwardly from the housing into position such that said compartments are successively communicated with the conduit on rotation of the drum through selected angular distances; valve means connected with the drum and normally closing the lower end of the conduit, said valve means being unseated responsive to rotation of the drum in one direction; and resilient, yielding means normally rotating the drum in an opposite direction to seat the valve means, said valve means when seated engaging the conduit to prevent further rotation of the drum in said opposite direction.

3. A metering and dispensing device for granular material comprising a hopper; a drum housing communicating therewith; a rotary drum in the housing having a plurality of segmentally shaped compartments communicating with the hopper on rotation of the drum; a conduit communicating with and extending downwardly from the housing into position such that said compartments are successively communicated with the conduit on rotation of the drum through selected angular distances; valve means connected with the drum and normally closing the lower end of the conduit, said valve means being unseated responsive to rotation of the drum in one direction; and resilient, yielding means normally rotating the drum in an opposite direction to seat the valve means, said valve means when seated engaging the conduit to prevent further rotation of the drum in said opposite direction, the valve means comprising a flexible element coiled about the drum and a conical plug carried by said flexible element and adapted to seat against the lower end of the hopper.

4. A metering and dispensing device for granular material comprising a hopper; a drum housing communicating therewith; a rotary drum in the housing having a plurality of segmentally shaped compartments communicating with the hopper on rotation of the drum; a conduit communicating with and extending downwardly from the housing into position such that said compartments are successively communicated with the conduit on rotation of the drum through selected angular distances; valve means connected with the drum and normally closing the lower end of the conduit, said valve means being unseated responsive to rotation of the drum in one direction; and resilient, yielding means normally rotating the drum in an opposite direction to seat the valve means, said valve means when seated engaging the conduit to prevent further rotation of the drum in said opposite direction, the valve means comprising a flexible element coiled about the drum and a conical plug carried by said flexible element and adapted to seat against the lower end of the hopper, the drum being formed with a transverse partition intermediate its ends peripherally grooved to receive said flexible element.

5. A metering and dispensing device for granular material comprising a hopper; a drum housing communicating therewith; a rotary drum in the housing having a plurality of segmentally shaped compartments communicating with the hopper on rotation of the drum; a conduit communicating with and extending downwardly from the housing into position such that said compartments are successively communicated with the conduit on rotation of the drum through selected angular distances; and valve means connected with the drum and normally closing the lower end of the conduit, said valve means being unseated responsive to rotation of the drum in one direction, one of said compartments extending through degrees of the drum circumference, and being the leading compartment in the sense of rotation of the drum in said one direction, the other compartments following said first named compartment and being each extended through 45 degrees of the drum circumference.

6. A metering and dispensing device for granular material comprising a hopper; a drum housing communicating therewith; a rotary drum in the housing having a plurality of segmentally shaped compartments communi cating with the hopper on rotation of the drum; a conduit communicating with and extending downwardly from the housing into position such that said compartments are successively communicated with the conduit on rotation of the drum through selected angular distances; valve means connected with the drum and normally closing the lower end of the conduit, said valve means being unseated responsive to rotation of the drum in one direction; and a mixing chamber connected with the lower end of the conduit to receive the materials dispensed through the conduit.

7. A metering and dispensing device 'for granular material comprising a hopper; a drum housing communicating therewith; a rotary drum in the housing having a plurality of segmentally shaped compartments communicating with the hopper on rotation of the drum; a conduit communicating with and extending downwardly from the housing into position such that said compartments are successively communicated with the conduit on rotation of the drum through selected angular distances; valve means connected with the drum and normally closing the lower end of the conduit, said valve means being unseated responsive to rotation of the drum in one direction; and a mixing chamber connected with the lower end of the conduit to receive the materials dispensed through the conduit, said mixing chamber including a pair of tubular fittings at one end and a single tubular fitting at the other end, one of the first named tubular fittings comprising a water inlet, theother of said first named fittings comprising means for connecting the mixing chamber with a pump of a washing machine, said fitting at the other end of the mixing chamber providing a connection for a line etxending from the mixing chamber to a washing machine.

No references cited. 

7. A METERING AND DISPERING DEVICE FOR GRANULAR MATERIAL COMPRISING A HOPPER, A DRUM HOUSING COMMUNICATING THREWITH; A ROTARY DRUM IN THE HOUSING HAVING A PLURALITY OF SEGMENTALLY SHAPED COMPARTMENTS COMMUNICATING WITH THE HOPPER ON ROTATION OF THE DRUM; A CONDUIT COMMUNICATING WITH AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE HOUSING INTO POSITION SUCH THAT SAID COMPARTMENTS ARE SUCCESSIVELY COMMUNICATED WITH THE CONDUIT ON ROTATION OF THE DRUM THROUGH SELECTED ANGULAR DISTANCES; VALVE MEANS CONNECTED WITH THE DRUM AND NORMALLY CLOSING THE LOWER END OF THE CONDUIT, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING UNSEATED RESPONSIVE TO ROTATION OF THE DRUM IN ONE DIRECTION; AND A MIXING CHAMBER CONNECTED WITH THE LOWER END OF THE CONDUIT TO RECEIVE THE MATERIALS DISPERSED THROUGH THE CONDUIT, SAID MIXING CHAMBER INCLUDING A PAIR OF TUBULAR FITTINGS AT ONE END AND A SINGLE TUBULAR FITTING AT THE OTHER END, ONE OF THE FIRST TUBULAR FITTINGS COMPRISING A WATER INLET, THE OTHER OF SAID FIRST NAMED FITTINGS COMPRISING MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE MIXING CHAMBER WITH A PUMP OF A WASHING MACHINE, SAID FITTING AT THE OTHER END OF THE MIXING CHAMBER PROVIDING A CONNECTIN FOR A LINE EXTENDING FROM THE MIXING CHAMBER TO A WASHING MACHINE. 